Developmental dysfluency

Introduction

Developmental dysfluency, or "normal dysfluency," is a normal lack of language fluency that occurs during early childhood development, commonly observed in children ages 2 ½ to 4 years old as they learn language and communication skills.[1][2] Developmental dysfluency consists of speech inconsistencies such as stuttering, repetition, mistiming or poor inflection.

Speech is a complicated achievement that involves a series of cognitive and linguistic processes that are both sensorimotor and auditory. As children grow, their language and vocabulary grow exponentially. As this happens, it is possible that a child might begin to demonstrate forms of dysfluencies in their speech as they begin to speak. The most common form of dysfluency in children younger than three years of age is the repetition of one syllable words or parts of words, especially at the beginning of their sentences as they try to form the sentence correctly.

As children grow and go through the developmental stages of their lives, language learning may be more dysfluent in some than others. These occurrences, however, are normal. When attempting to master spoken language, children gradually develop fluent speech. Children go through the same learning patterns when they learn their first language as adults do when they learn to speak languages other than their native one.

Statistics

Preschool children usually go through a period of dysfluency as they attempt to learn linguistic and speech skills. About 10% of these children will experience a speech or language delay that is serious enough for them to benefit from early referral and assessment by a speech language pathologist (SLP). Normal dysfluency begins during a child's intensive language years and dissipates as the child continues to grow and develop. These dysfluencies are considered a normal phase of language development.[3]

Additionally, 85% of children, before preschool age will experience developmental dysfluency. These children won’t require intervention because their dysfluency is a normal part of their development. 1 in 12 children, ages 3–17, will experience issues with their speech that is not considered within the normal realm of developmental dysfluency. However, only half of those individuals will receive intervention and speech therapy.[3]

Children who do not require speech therapy will often outgrow the period of dysfluency. Experts find that there is a distinction between childhood dysfluency that will likely correct itself and other disorders such as stuttering.[4]

When is Intervention Required?

There are several warning signs of speech delays that are not considered developmentally normal.[5]

  • Babies that don’t “coo” or babble
  • Babies that don’t respond to noise or speech around them
  • Their first words have not been spoken by 15 months
  • They have a 50-word vocabulary, or less, by two years old
  • Others struggle to understand what your child is saying at 3 years or older
  • Other adults should be able to understand at least 75% of what child says[6]
  • Struggles to follow simple instructions at 2 years old and beyond
  • Has speech sound error after five years old
  • "t” “d” and “n” should be pronounced correctly by age 3

Experts recommend an initial evaluation by a pediatrician, who might also recommend an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist.[7]

References
  1. Yaruss, J.Scott; Newman, Robyn M; Flora, Tracy (September 1999). "Language and disfluency in nonstuttering children's conversational speech". Journal of Fluency Disorders. 24 (3): 185–207. doi:10.1016/s0094-730x(99)00009-1. ISSN 0094-730X.
  2. "Developmental Disfluency vs. Atypical Dysfluency/Stuttering: When to be Concerned". Eyas Landing. 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  3. Weir, Erica; Bianchet, Sonya (2004-06-08). "Developmental dysfluency: early intervention is key". CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal. 170 (12): 1790–1791. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1040733. ISSN 0820-3946. PMID 15184330.
  4. "Stuttering". NIDCD. 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  5. Howell, Beth Cooper (2020-05-26). "Does my child need speech therapy? Look out for these signs". Living and Loving. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  6. "How to Know if Your Child Needs a Speech Evaluation". Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  7. "Delayed Speech or Language Development (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth". kidshealth.org. Retrieved 2020-11-02.

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  • Weir, Erica; Bianchet, Sonya (2004-06-08). "Developmental dysfluency: early intervention is key". CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal. 170(12): 1790–1791. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1040733. ISSN 0820-3946. PMID 15184330.
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